bodhisattva

/ˌboʊdɪˈsʌtvə/
noun
  1. In Buddhism, a person who is on the path to becoming a Buddha but chooses to delay their own enlightenment in order to help others achieve it.
    • Stories of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara inspire people to show kindness to strangers.
    • The bodhisattva vowed to remain in the world until all beings were free from suffering.
    • Many Mahayana Buddhists aspire to become a bodhisattva and dedicate their lives to compassion.
  2. A very compassionate and selfless person who helps others without thinking of their own benefit.
    • My grandmother was a true bodhisattva, always putting the needs of her community before her own.
    • The volunteer worked like a bodhisattva, spending every weekend at the homeless shelter.
    • In modern usage, calling someone a bodhisattva is a high compliment for their generosity.
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